High-living Jason McElderry's love of the good life cost him his freedom today after he was exposed as a drugs baron.

High-living Jason McElderry's love of the good life cost him his freedom today after he was exposed as a drugs baron.

McElderry had no visible means of support apart from the &#xA3;75 a week his wife Diane earned part-time at a local supermarket.

He had no job of his own and was not even claiming benefits, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

But the couple's home in Byland Road, Longbenton, North Tyneside, was kitted out with expensive furniture and fittings, including a &#xA3;10,000 kitchen and a sofa worth more than &#xA3;5,000.

They both wore eye-catching items of jewellery, later estimated by an expert to be worth more than &#xA3;30,000.

And their sporty VW Golf had set them back &#xA3;15,000, the court heard.

But a police surveillance operation uncovered the source of McElderry's money and exposed him as what officers described as a major cannabis dealer.

The 33-year-old used his home as the base for his supply racket, taking deliveries of large drug consignments then storing them at a safe house.

He recruited his stepson Paul McElderry to help him run the business, said Ian Graham, prosecuting.

And his wife's uncle, John Taylor, was brought in to look after a &#xA3;10,000 cannabis haul.

Police recovered those drugs, 14 nine-ounce bars, when they ended their operation with a series of raids last May.

More than &#xA3;2,000 in cash, a list of debtors and cannabis-tainted electronic scales were also seized from Paul McElderry's home.

McElderry Snr, who admitted supplying cannabis and possession with intent, denied he was a regular dealer, claiming he had agreed only to look after the recovered drugs for someone he would not name. He claimed he made his money by dealing in jewellery.

But jailing him for two years and nine months, Judge Michael Cartlidge said: "I don't believe you are the simple storer of cannabis.

"It's impossible for me to believe the income to support your way of life could have been acquired simply from trading in jewellery.

"My view is that you are involved in drug dealing and it goes beyond what you are prepared to admit."

Paul McElderry, 18, who lived in a neighbouring house on Byland Road, was put under supervision and ordered to carry out 120 hours' community punishment after he admitted being concerned in cannabis supply.

Taylor, 30, of Stonechat Place, Longbenton, was ordered to carry out 240 hours' community punishment after admitting possessing cannabis with intent.

Diane McElderry, 35, admitted assisting her husband to retain the benefits of drug trafficking and was also ordered to carry out 240 hours' community punishment. She had never questioned where he was getting his money, the court heard.

Judge Cartlidge told her: "I have imposed the longest order I can because this was serious stuff and you have come very close to a prison sentence."

Police and prosecutors are now investigating what assets could be seized as the profits of drug dealing, and a further hearing is to be held in July.